Mark Wall (Labour)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter and welcome the Minister of State to the House. We are all familiar with the magnificent meals-on-wheels services throughout the country and I am particularly acquainted with the service in my own area of south Kildare. The service is operated by a list of great operators including Rathangan Daycare Centre, St. Conleth's Daycare Centre, Newbridge Daycare Centre, Monasterevin Daycare Centre, Kilcullen meals on wheels and meals on wheels from St. Vincent's, Athy. These organisations are critical to sustaining our older population in their homes and it is important to thank everybody involved in these services. Many people volunteer their time and collect money and necessary finances to support the services that are ongoing in south Kildare.

The issue that I want to raise with the Minister of State today is the need for further investment and resources for the services in south Kildare and, as a knock-on effect, for the surrounding regions. I have recently been contacted by a large number of families who wish to avail of the service for their loved one. In many cases raised with me, the person has just been discharged from hospital or has unfortunately suffered a bereavement and finds him or herself in urgent need of a good daily meal during the week. The reason I raise this today is that unfortunately, there seems to be a waiting list for services in south Kildare. Having spoken about this with colleagues, I have also been told that there are waiting lists in other areas as well. The Minister of State is well aware of - and I do not need to outline - the benefits of providing a daily meal to those who find themselves in such a situation.

I will give two examples of cases that demonstrate what is going on for certain people and why they urgently need assistance and the services of meals on wheels. One is a gentleman who has been in hospital for almost a year on and off and who has just been discharged. He will need care and attention but unfortunately, the vast majority of his family live out of the country. The nearest relative he has is not in a position to visit him on a daily basis. His family are very concerned about his health and welfare. The second is a lady who unfortunately suffered a bereavement in the last few months. Her husband, who is now deceased, was her carer. She is not in a position to look after herself and again her relatives are either living out of the country or are not in the Kildare area. I have heard a number of cases like these in the last number of months. People are being told that there is a waiting list when they contact these magnificent services.

I know there has been some funding in the past. I want to mention the Monasterevin Daycare Centre. We have a new building opening there and were additional funding provided to them, they would be in a position to provide more services in that area.. I would appreciate it were the Government to consider that. I will conclude by putting on record my thanks to all those who operate the service. They are great services and additional funding and resources from the Government would create huge opportunities for those who are suffering, as well as their loved ones. Most importantly, as we all want, it would keep many people out of nursing homes and accident and emergency units in hospitals. I thank the Government for its support for meals on wheels and look forward to a positive reply.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Wall for raising this issue. It is great to have a Commencement matter like this put down because I can point out what we have done and what we are trying to do to support people who fall outside the areas.

It is a key priority for me and the Government to allow more people to engage with services, thereby allowing them to remain independent and able to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. I speak every day about the triangular supports of homecare, daycare and meals on wheels within the community setting. These include dementia-specific supports. They are a key factor in supporting older people to age well in their own homes.When I came into this post in 2020, the budget for meals on wheels was €3 million. This year, it is €6.25 million. I have doubled it. We have also done so much more. Working with Irish Rural Link, which is a phenomenal organisation, we now have the National Meals on Wheels Network, which is really important. I launched an interactive map. You can go online. Some 307 organisations come under this umbrella now. You will see exactly where meals on wheels are available.

Last year, 2.7 million meals were delivered across the length and breadth of the country. I, like the Senator, want to thank the organisations, the day centres, the meals on wheels centres, the volunteers, those who work on community employment schemes and Tús schemes, and all of these people. It is just like an army on the move every day of the week. It is so much more than a nutritious meal. I cannot tell the Senator how passionate I am about it. It is a knock on the door, a social connection, and it might be the only person someone sees that day. These wraparound supports are vital to prevent loneliness and social isolation, and to maintain positive overall health and well-being.

Regarding the couple of cases the Senator mentioned, we all know such cases that fall outside the catchment area of where the meals are being delivered. Most of these organisations tell me they have more capacity. The real challenge is in having them delivered. There are two areas overlapping and a little area in the middle that nobody is covering. I recently met the National Meals on Wheels Network. I have spoken at its annual conference every year since it started to happen in 2022. We are looking at expanding the service. We are looking at areas we would see where there is no service and we are working on that.

I want to speak specifically on the Senator's area. The HSE has advised that the total funding for meals on wheels services in the Kildare area is just under €250,000. This funding is divided across 11 meals on wheels services in Kildare, including two HSE-delivered meals on wheels services and nine section 39 agencies funded through grant aid agreements. These meals on wheels services are currently being provided to 460 people in Kildare every day. The funding provided to south Kildare makes up approximately half of the funding allocated to the Kildare area for meals on wheels services, with south Kildare receiving €130,000 in funding for these services. Meals on wheels services in south Kildare are located in Athy, Kildare town, Newbridge, Monasterevin and Rathangan. The Senator spoke about Monasterevin day care centre and how it has more capacity. I suggest that it write to its local HSE office in its CHO to propose a business plan saying that it could do an extra 20 or 25 meals per day.

Every single meals on wheels centre this year, whether it is working out of a day centre or not, should see an uplift in funding. There was an extra €1 million this year for 320 or 330 organisations. I know it is not a lot when divided up, but I have spoken to many that are seeing an uplift of approximately €20,000, and I hope it starts filtering down to them.

Mark Wall (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for that positive reply. I note her passion about this great service. It is something I share with her. The day care centre in Monasterevin is a new one that the Minister of State would be familiar with. It has capacity and I spoke to people there yesterday. They would love to talk to someone. I will take that up and get them to write in to the HSE services. I am sure that will form part of the new services in Monasterevin. The issue with Athy is that it is probably at capacity. Most people I spoke to there are living in the general Athy area. It is unfortunate that there is a lack of capacity in St. Vincent's hospital for the wonderful service. I am enthused by the Minister of State's reply. It is great that Government has recognised this and that the Minister of State has recognised the important social context of this as well as the health context. I thank her for her reply and look forward to the expansion of the services under her remit. This is a very positive reply and I thank the Minister of State for it. Maybe I could write to her about the couple of cases I had, so that she may take them up with the HSE. I appreciate her enthusiasm and work in this area.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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If they are able to put a business plan in place, could the Senator copy me on it? We are trying to identify areas around the country where people just fall outside coverage. I have spoken to many families. They find that some of the organisations can provide the meals but not delivery in that area, especially for loved ones whose families might have moved abroad or be living in other counties. As I said, last year was phenomenal. Some 2.7 million meals were delivered. It is so much more than a nutritious meal. Today, as we stand here, 54,000 people, or maybe 55,000, will receive home care. The home care, day care and meals on wheels are keeping people out of nursing homes. That is where my focus is at all times and why the budget has been increased. It is important to say that every single meals on wheels group should see additional funding this year. If they do not, I will follow up on it for the Senator. I thank him for his interest in this subject.